Members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation came out strongly against proposals announced Wednesday by President Barack Obama. Here's what they had to say:

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa

“While we mourn with those who have lost loved ones, in no way should the actions of those few who act illegally impact the constitutional rights of the many.

“I will continue to strongly oppose any effort to undermine the Second Amendment and an individual citizen's right to keep and bear arms.

“What people need to understand about today's announcement is that it involved two very distinct actions by the president: 1) Executive actions that the president will be implementing unilaterally, and 2) Making recommendations to Congress for laws that it should pass.

“Most of the planned executive orders are common sense changes that are within the president's current powers to implement. … I will adamantly oppose any executive order that I believe infringes upon duly enacted laws by the Congress or on our Constitutional rights.

“Where I do disagree with the president is on his recommendations for laws Congress should pass. We know from experience that an assault weapons ban will have no meaningful effect on gun violence, as many of the changes that are implemented by such a ban are cosmetic in nature. Statistics demonstrate that a ban on particular weapons will not significantly decrease crime. Such a ban will, however, significantly decrease our rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

“The text of the Constitution clearly confers upon an individual the right to bear arms — and not just for the purposes of hunting as many liberals will claim. Our founders believed that the people's right to own guns was an important check on the powers of the government and ‘necessary to the security of a free State.' I couldn't agree more and I stand firm in my support of this right.”

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore

“I will oppose any legislation to limit the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans, including a ban on so-called assault weapons. I represent tens of thousands of responsible gun owners who safely use guns for hunting and protection, and restricting their freedom is not the solution to gun violence.”

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by Chris Casteel

Washington Bureau

Chris Casteel began working for The Oklahoman's Norman bureau in 1982 while a student at the University of Oklahoma. After covering the police beat, federal courts and the state Legislature in Oklahoma City, he moved to Washington in 1990, where...